The trials and tribulations of a judicial reformist, her efforts to make change and bring transparency into the court system, and the system's response. Attorney Clark also comments on judicial reform issues around the USA, and lawyer rights. Go to About to report judicial misconduct or leave a note for Attorney Clark.

About

January 9, 2013: If you want your comment to be publicly posted, please indicate that in the text of your comment.

The comment spot is below. Scroll down. Keep it brief so people can review it quickly, and we can have a lively discussion.

***

Attorney Jill Clark did not set out to be a judicial reformist. She did her job as an attorney, which, at times, meant reporting in official court documents, her observations about judges and other system insiders.

Over time, Clark realized that refusal to hold judges accountable to the law (which they were supposedly enforcing impartially), was a big problem in the Minnesota courts. At first, Clark worked within the system. She and her clients gave the Minnesota courts many chances to do the right thing. This included filing documents with the appellate courts, filing lawsuits that exposed the problem, and filing complaints with the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards (supposedly charged with enforcing judicial ethics rules).

THE CASES.

Some of the judges Clark complained about went after her, claiming she’d violated her ethics. Hmmm. Not very imaginative. In fact, as Clark was to learn, part of a well-worn groove in Minnesota – punishing lawyers who spoke the truth about judges.

That lawsuit is discussed in this blog. Go to page ‘Minnesota matter.’ You can track how the authorities treat Clark as she moves through the process. Clark will comment on various aspects of it.

Based on evidence of judicial misconduct that Clark had amassed over the years, but also on some alarmingly evidence that Clark received within the past year, Clark and her clients have been trying, since January of this year, to file a lawsuit in federal court against the Minnesota state courts. We’ll cover that lawsuit (see page ‘Our Federal case‘) and comment on it.

When Clark was working to get the lawsuit against state judges filed, the Chief Judge of the federal court (the District of Minnesota), who used to be a state court judge, started a disciplinary case against Clark.

That will also be covered on this blog. See Federal foray page. There will likely be articles about that case, too.

ABOUT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Clark also covers issues that arise in our justice system, as the public strives to hold their public officials accountable. See the categories.

REPORTING JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT.

If you’ve experienced what you believe to be judicial misconduct, you may leave a brief note. Please understand that this is not an invitation to inquire about becoming Attorney Clark’s client (and no attorney-client relationship is formed). And the note is not an official complaint to any official investigating agency. It’s merely a place to tell a brief version of your story. In Attorney Clark’s opinion there are few ‘safe’ places to report judicial misconduct. So if you want to talk about it – feel free. It’s possible that some of the notes will receive follow up. The note will not publicly post.

I feel your pain. This morning I’m in a hotel room in Portland preparing for a job interview. This folllows a divorce case that spanned over 10 years. During that period, the MN judiciary has destroyed what was once a prosperous business that employed three. I have brought numerous complaints to the JSB, had a judge removed for prejudice, but with all of that, the judiciary continued to ignore statute, fedreal code and their own rules of procedure. My case has been to the court of appeals 5 times and I have unsuccessfully petitioned the MN Supreme Court twice.

The record of my case clearly documents the Court’s abuse of power by blatantly ignoring the rules of procedure, ignoring statute and law, and falsifying the record and the evidence. It is quite bizarre. I beleive much of the record in my case would support your federal case. If you’d like to chat about the specifics, let me know.

From your many posts over the last few days, I understand today is a pivotal day for you. If I wasn’t in Oregon dealing with the aftermath of my own sufferings at the hand of the MN judiciary, I’d be at the courthouse steps to lend at least support in spirit. My prayers are with you this morning!